Florida Pari-Mutuels Could Lose Licenses if Slots Installed
Florida State Representative Ellyn Bogdanoff has threatened to strip Broward’s pari-mutuels of their operating licenses, ahould they install slots in their facilities before regulatory legislation is passed.
Bogdanoff requested that the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation, which is in charge of gambling matters, adopt such a measure. Establishments such as Dania Jai-Alai, Gulfstream Park, Hollywood Greyhound Track would be most affected by such a ruling.
The department has responded positively to Bogdanoff’s request, but it is still unclear when the measure will be implemented. However, if the department will implement the request by Bogdanoff, it might obstruct an attempt by several Broward County Commission members to form its own stand on slots operation until further legislative action.
In response to Bogdanoff’s efforts, pari-mutuel industry executives are planning to take the matter to court. They will demand either a special meeting of the legislators in order to define guidelines regarding slots operation, or allow the court to propose its own interim guidelines.
